China’s Dangerous Military Moves Pushing US And India Closer

MONDAY PDB – China's military provocations: Beijing's war hawks are making it harder to improve relations with the U.S.

Navy releases video of US destroyer's close call with Chinese warship in Taiwan Strait. The video shows what it called an “unsafe” Chinese maneuver when a Chinese navy ship cut sharply across the path of an American destroyer, forcing the U.S. vessel to slow to avoid a collision.

China's new defense minister defends country's response to ‘provocation.' He said Chinese fighter jets and naval vessels were responding to provocations close to China's airspace and waters when carrying out maneuvers that have been branded dangerous or unprofessional.

Austin seeks meeting with China, says ‘right time to talk is now.' The U.S. defense secretary called on China to resume bilateral dialogue and engagements, saying diplomacy is vital to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

BUT WHILE CHINA MAY NOT WANT TO TALK, INDIA DOES.

US defense secretary discusses upgrading ties with India to counter China. Lloyd Austin discussed upgrading partnership with India, a major arms buyer, and set a roadmap for cooperation for the next five years as both countries grapple with China's increased belligerence.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here's a roundup of today's other top defense stories from national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President's Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:

POLITICS

Republican White House hopeful Nikki Haley attacks Trump, DeSantis over Ukraine. Haley, the U.N. ambassador under former President Donald Trump, went after her ex-boss and 2024 rival Ron DeSantis over their refusal to say whether they want Ukraine to win its war against Russia.

PENTAGON WOKE WATCH

GET RID OF DEI – Military college's chief of diversity, equity and inclusion quits amid debate over DEI. She was at the nation's oldest state-supported military college, Virginia Military Institute.

HONESTLY DON'T RECALL ANY BLACK SOLDIER EVER SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THE BASE'S NAME – EVER – Fort Bragg officially renamed Fort Liberty. Fort Bragg shed its [PREVIOUSLY IGNORED] Confederate namesake Friday to become Fort Liberty in a ceremony some veterans said was a small but important step in making the U.S. Army more welcoming to current and prospective Black service members.

HOMELAND SECURITY

F-16 jet scrambled to respond to unresponsive small plane over capital. A business jet that flew over the nation's capital Sunday afternoon caused the military to send a fighter before the plane crashed in Virginia. The fighter caused a loud sonic boom that was heard across the capital region.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Ukraine keeps up pressure in Bakhmut after Russian victory declaration. Russia declared victory in the eastern city last month, but Ukrainian defenders aren't retreating.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 467. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense renewed its plea for operational silence around a long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia, posting a video with the words: “plans love silence.”

NATO-trained units will serve as tip of spear in Ukraine's counteroffensive. This will be the biggest test yet of the U.S.-led strategy of giving the Ukrainians weapons and training to fight like an American army might — but on their own.

Russia says it thwarted attack in Donetsk; unclear if this was start of Ukrainian counteroffensive. Its Defense Ministry announced early Monday.

Blinken says no Ukraine cease-fire without Russia's withdrawal. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says cease-fire must be part of a “just and lasting” peace deal that includes Russia's military withdrawal.

IRAN THREAT

US Navy says Iran Revolutionary Guard fast-attack boats ‘harassed' ship in Strait of Hormuz. It said its sailors and the United Kingdom Royal Navy came to the aid of a ship in the crucial Strait.

US says Iran's claimed naval alliance with Saudi, Gulf nations ‘defies reason.' Illogical that the number one cause of regional instability, claims it wants to form a naval security alliance to protect the very waters it threatens,” US 5th Fleet spokesperson said.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

US, Japan, South Korea announce push to boost missile defense data sharing. The U.S., in a rare mention of nuclear weapons, “reaffirmed its steadfast alliance commitments to Japan and the ROK backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear.”

SPACE THREAT

Top Space Force general visits Europe to explore how to operate within NATO. With the Space Force about to stand up its own European component, the service is studying how it will work within NATO.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Indonesia kicks off multilateral naval exercise amid Asia-Pacific tension. The routine Komodo drills are a “non-war” exercise that aims to “strengthen relationships between the navies” of 36 countries. Navies from countries including the U.S., Britain, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea are present.

Russia begins Baltic Sea drills one day after NATO member states began their annual Baltic drills.

Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz supporting Guam relief efforts with helicopters, communications. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is still providing support for disaster relief operations for the U.S. territory that was struck by Super Typhoon Marwa late last month.

Israel intends to share data for weaving Iron Dome into US air defense. The Israeli military and the U.S. Army are moving to tie the Army's two Iron Dome batteries into the service's overall missile defense program. Instead of being just an independent gap-filler.

Canada boosts Indo-Pacific naval deployments, military engagements. It is pledging to step up its military posture, adding an additional warship annually to the region.

US MILITARY

Army seeks bomb-carrying drones like Ukraine's. Average U.S. soldiers could pilot lethal quadcopters—if they are ever fielded.

US Marines are developing air-launched swarming munitions for helos. They intend to replace some decades-old Hellfire missiles with a family of long-range loitering munitions, giving its attack helicopters greater range and lethality for a fight in the Pacific region.

Marines release specs for high-tech next-gen combat utility uniform. The planned combat utility uniform will build in fire resistance, minimize visibility and add comfort.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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